Three new Asian eateries are among at least a dozen restaurants coming this year to North Naples.

Here’s a quick preview of those new eateries and some of the others we can expect here in 2018.

Buy Photo

Namba Ramen & Sushi is targeted to open in January 2018 at Pelican Bay Marketplace in North Naples. (Photo: Tim Aten/Naples Daily News)

Namba

Chef Koko is giving local diners another chance to try enjoy his creative twists on ramen and sushi.

Pitak Hermkhunthod, best known as just Chef Koko, is launching Namba Ramen & Sushi this week in the former space of the Dragon Garden Chinese restaurant in Pelican Bay Marketplace, the Publix-anchored retail center on the southwest corner of U.S. 41 and Vanderbilt Beach Road.

His ramen became the talk of the town shortly after Zen Asian BBQ opened two years ago just up the road in Naples Park and his kitchen turned out the savory creations of noodles and broth. He left Zen, but his local creation successfully continues.

Chef Koko made a name for himself in Miami before relocating here. He grew up cooking in his family restaurant in Thailand before spending five years training in Japan, then two years in New York City with Iron Chef Morimoto.

The new Namba will feature an Izakaya-style casual dining experience with shareable small plates. Izakayas, best translated as a Japanese gastropub or tavern, are informal venues for relaxing, unwinding and socializing that are popular in Namba, an entertainment district in Osaka, Japan.

Aburi Sushi features Wagyu beef, truffle butter, tenkasu and gold leaf made with an Australian truffle with butter at the new Namba Ramen & Sushi in North Naples.(Photo: Namba)

In addition to his signature 17-hour broth, Chef Koko has refined the housemade ramen noodle recipe in collaboration with Chef Tiger Mizuta, a culinary expert that hails from a family rooted in two generations of artisanal, time-honored methods of making ramen noodles in Japan. Namba diners also will be able to customize their ramen with nine toppings, including spicy bean sprouts, fried onions and kikurage wood ear mushrooms.

Namba also will be offering aburi sushi, a grilling method that lightly flame-sears the fresh fish. The Namba aburi items will include delectable accents such as truffle butter, yuzu guacamole and tenkasu, crunchy bits of deep-fried tempura.

As expected, Namba will feature robata grilled items too such as prime rib eye with wafu dressing and truffle sauce, as well as Madagascan jumbo tiger prawns. Other Namba specialties will include roasted king crab with lime butter and Chilean sea bass with jalapeno dressing.

Buy Photo

Mojo Thai & Sushi Bar is targeted to open in early January 2018 in the Galleria Shoppes at Vanderbilt on the northwest corner of Airport-Pulling and Vanderbilt Beach roads in North Naples. (Photo: Tim Aten/Naples Daily News)

Mojo

Mojo plans to heat up the space where the Let’s Yo! frozen yogurt franchise used to be in the center on the northwest corner of Airport-Pulling and Vanderbilt Beach roads. Originally intended to open last fall, the restaurant’s construction was delayed by Hurricane Irma.

The name Mojo conjures up a little magic, but it’s also a combination of Mo and Jo, the nicknames for owners Tangmo and Joe Sunthi. Although both are natives of Thailand, they met only a few years ago at the Pine Ridge Road location of Komoon Thai Sushi & Ceviche, where they worked. Joe Sunthi was the sushi chef at Komoon and then at Thai Udon Cafe in downtown Naples.

Mojo’s Thai dishes are promised to taste like the Sunthis’ homeland creations because of the use of authentic ingredients. The couple has hired the mysterious master chef “M” to head up their sushi bar.

The new local eatery will serve lunch and dinner, as well as beer, wine and sake. The menu has not been released yet.

Buy Photo

Asian Go!Go! is targeted to open in January 2018 in the former space of Lucarelli's in the Galleria Shoppes off Vanderbilt Beach Road in North Naples.(Photo: Tim Aten/Naples Daily News)

Asian Go!Go!

Shortly after the longtime Lucarelli’s permanently closed this fall, work began to ready Asian Go!Go! to open there in the Galleria Shoppes on Fontana Del Sol Way off Vanderbilt Beach Road.

Asian Go!Go! is targeted to open this month, but not many details are available yet for the “authentic Asian takeout.” We are expecting Japanese cuisine because owner Junji Hijikata, a Tokyo native, has been the general manager and chef for decades at Fujiyama Steak & Seafood House in North Naples.

Buy Photo

Cirella's Italian Bistro & Sushi Bar, which has operated for more than a decade in Prado at Spring Creek on U.S. 41 in Bonita Springs, will open its second regional location on the western end of Vanderbilt Commons on Vanderbilt Beach Road.(Photo: Tim Aten/Naples Daily News)

Cirella’s / Five Guys

Cirella’s Italian Bistro & Sushi Bar and Five Guys Burgers & Fries are building new locations in Vanderbilt Commons, the retail center under construction on Vanderbilt Beach Road west of Collier Boulevard.

Cirella’s second area location will anchor the western end and Five Guys will have the eastern end of the first 30,000-square-foot building making progress daily.

“If all goes accordingly, we are looking at a spring opening,” said Michael Cirella, who has operated his family’s restaurant in Prado at Spring Creek on U.S. 41 in Bonita Springs for more than a decade.

East meets West at Cirella’s, which features both traditional Italian specialties and a full Japanese sushi bar. The new restaurant will have an indoor/outdoor bar and outdoor seating.

The Five Guys franchise also is targeting a spring opening in the new retail center, local partner Matt Stolba said. The fast-casual restaurant will have outdoor seating too.

Buy Photo

Jeri Holecek, left, waits on customers in January 2017 at her purple-hued LuLu B's Grill in Marketplace at Pelican Bay in North Naples. Holecek plans to open LuLu B's Diner this fall in Green Tree Center.(Photo: Tim Aten/Naples Daily News)

LuLu B’s Diner

After operating Lulu B’s Grill & Cafe for more than 20 years in North Naples, Jeri Holecek is branching out again this year.

Fresh off of co-launching Jeri Lu’s Kitchen in East Naples last year, Holecek is targeting a May opening for LuLu B’s Diner in Green Tree Center on the southwest corner of Airport-Pulling and Immokalee roads.

“We finally got the permit so we can start construction,” she said. “I’m figuring four or five months to build it out.”

The new diner and its adjoining coffee shop are being built in the former spaces of Erika’s Café and The Gift Tree shop, between Boston Beer Garden and Joey D’s.

The restaurant will serve breakfast and lunch with a retro theme that celebrates the ‘60s, much like the original LuLu B’s, which will remain operating in Marketplace at Pelican Bay.

Giardino Gourmet Salads has at least 20 varieties of salads to choose from as well as build-your-own options. (Photo: Giardino Gourmet Salads)

Giardino

Miami-based Giardino Gourmet Salads is moving into the Southwest Florida with a store it plans to open soon in Marquesa Plaza on the southeast corner of Pine Ridge and Livingston roads. The redeveloped space near Starbucks will front Pine Ridge.

The menu for Giardino (pronounced jar-DEE-no) includes a variety of salads served in bowls or as wraps, as well as soup and deli salads such as tropical chicken, curry turkey and creamy tuna served in a bowl or bun.

Culver's is planning a new location in 2018 near the recently opened RaceTrac station, right, in Cameron Commons, the retail center on Immokalee Road just east of Collier Boulevard. (Photo: Tim Aten/Naples Daiy News)

Culver’s / Taco Bell

Groundbreaking is scheduled Jan. 19 for Collier County’s third location of Culver’s, the Wisconsin-based chain known for its burgers and custard.

The new fast-casual restaurant is targeted to open June 12 in the second phase of Cameron Commons, said Mike Busalacchi, a Naples resident who co-owns both Collier County franchises of Culver’s.

A Taco Bell franchise will be built next door on the property between Culver’s and the newly opened RaceTrac store and gas station in the retail center on Immokalee Road just east of Collier Boulevard.

More, of course

Expect as many as four new restaurants opening on Naples Boulevard this year. Monday’s column just reported on Twin Peaks and Newk’s Eatery chains planning locations on the busy boulevard. In addition to Newk’s. two more eateries are expected in Boulevard Shoppes II under construction near Hollywood 20 cinema.